Arid
At the close of every day

It seemed that in Belgium, besides Deus, Zita Swoon, and Soulwax, there were no other bands capable of making good rock music that could cross the national border.
Well, here's the contradiction, and it certainly doesn't come now; it dates back to 2000, when Arid debuted with a little masterpiece: At the Close of Every Day, also known by many as "Little Things of Venom" (in Belgium it was released with this latter title).

Leading the Belgian band, singer Jasper Steverlinck has one of those voices that, once heard, you seldom forget. It easily reaches the heights dared by the best Ian Astbury and, above all, his majesty Freddy Mercury. The day they stop wasting time looking for a new heir, the Queen could very well find their new singer here with Arid.
With such a voice, Jasper leads the sweet, baroque, and melancholic rock of his band, which, even while mixing strings, acoustics, electrics, rhythm, and piano, always keeps this softness of voice in the foreground—committed and delicate, narrating with warmth about intense loves and twilight melancholies. And often dragging his group close to the sweet and passionate sound of the Queen of Innuendo, the last authentic Queen album before a decade of annoying commercialization.
It's likely that some, thanks to Enel, have already discovered the skill of Arid. I say this because Me And My Melody was the soundtrack of the Enel commercial a few months ago. In 2004, Arid released a new album All Is Quiet Now, an equally beautiful record, but unable to reach the same emotional peaks as this debut.

You will hardly find this album at your first record store, but don't give up. Once it's in your hands, you'll see that after the first listen, you'll come back here to thank me for this little gem once hidden.